FYI re using Nationwide CC abroad

jnd

blindman wrote:

In New York I couldn't use my UK credit card as the rail ATM (buying a Metro card) asks for a ZIP code as well as a PIN (prevent fraud I think) so I had to use cash.

It's the same at gas stations. You can't pay at the pump as it asks for zip code so you have to either pre-pay or leave them your credit card while you fill up.

malamala

Just came back from Hong Kong and Thailand and have no problem drawing local cash from ATMs.

Can't comment on swiping card though as I have not used that.

pin

malamala wrote:

Just came back from Hong Kong and Thailand and have no problem drawing local cash from ATMs.

Can't comment on swiping card though as I have not used that.

I think we are aware that getting cash out from ATMs is fine, its more about using the credit card with retailers.

mjmal51

Agree with pin above using the cc is possibly going to be a problem. As far as ATMs are concerned I use my Nationwide debit card not the credit card as the cc incurs a charge for cash withdrawals.

Jake'sGran

pin wrote:

I personally have never had a problem in the past with a Nationwide CC, however this seems to be a new issue, so would be grea to hear reports from people who've used their Nationwide CC abroad very recently.

I used mine to pay the bill at a Sol Melia hotel in Spain on 13th October. The receptionist gave me the choice of signature or PIN so I used the pin.
She also asked if I would like to pay in Euros or Stg and I chose Euros but they converted at 1.43 anyway so the question was pointless.As advised on this board the other day I have complained to Nationwide as, in the past, the Euro figure has always been converted at the Interbank rate.
There was also a note on the receipt "Mark Up 3%". So I was annoyed about the whole thing. The lady handling it suddenly went deaf when I asked about it.

treacle

When I was in Oz last year I couldn't pay for anything using the usual chip and pin method. I rang Nationwide and they couldn't provide a reasonable explanation and assured me it should work. I worked out for myself that there must be an incompatible system in place. It was fine in the ATM's when withdrawing money but I was embarrassed in a number of shops when it was refused!!!!

RightRevBod

Donnie wrote:

This thread is about cards being swiped by retailers, rather than being slotted into PIN machine.
Essentially, it is to cut down on the huge amount of fraud being perpetrated in that part of the world.

I can see that there would be issues with any retailers who use readers like Tesco's. These read the chip and the magnetic stripe.

So it would be difficult to tell whether is is going to ask for a pin or signature until after the card has been read.

James

Use my Nationwide CC in the Canaries three weeks ago. No problem, but it is Chip & Signature - sorry Chip & Print.

Birdy

James wrote:

Use my Nationwide CC in the Canaries three weeks ago. No problem, but it is Chip & Signature - sorry Chip & Print.

Fuerteventura in June, and using CC was a nightmare when we first arrived. Car hire company said it wasn't being accepted, so had to use debit card! Got to hotel, wasn't accepted again, so phoned NW - they said Spain don't know how to use chip and pin properly!! Anyway, she said she could see where we had tried to use it and immediately 'corrected' at her end - not sure if she just unblocked it or what, but it was fine after that, although extremely slow when going through the machines. We were never quite sure if it was going to work, or be rejected!

I even informed NW of our trip before we went and they never mentioned any problems might arise.

B.

Donnie

Jake'sGran wrote:

I used mine to pay the bill at a Sol Melia hotel in Spain on 13th October. The receptionist gave me the choice of signature or PIN so I used the pin.
She also asked if I would like to pay in Euros or Stg and I chose Euros but they converted at 1.43 anyway so the question was pointless.As advised on this board the other day I have complained to Nationwide as, in the past, the Euro figure has always been converted at the Interbank rate.
There was also a note on the receipt "Mark Up 3%". So I was annoyed about the whole thing. The lady handling it suddenly went deaf when I asked about it.

Interesting. Very cheeky. I wonder if that is the new policy of all of the Sol Melia hotels?